A £200,000 scheme is set to hit the streets of East Bury to improve life for residents.

Interviews will begin next week to find a project manager and three uniformed street wardens to patrol streets and public places in East ward.

Financed by cash from East Ward's Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) and local and national government grants, the street wardens scheme is designed to improve people's quality of life in the area.

As part of the project, street wardens will earn between £13,000 and £15,000 a year, for the next three years at least, while the project manager will be on an annual salary of around £22,000.

The role of the street wardens will include improving the physical appearance of streets and open spaces; deterring yobbish behaviour; reducing crime and the fear of crime; and encouraging communities to work together to improve their local environments. Mary Wood, East Bury's Neighbourhood Warden Project Manager, said: "The interviews for the posts will be next week and it is hoped those selected will be patrolling the streets of East Ward by no later than November.

"The Street Wardens scheme is not to be confused with Bury's Community Safety Wardens project. The residents of East Ward will, however, enjoy the same benefits and their quality of life will improve."

The area covered by the East Ward Street Warden programme is bounded by Wash Lane, Rochdale Old Road and Bell Lane.

The pending appointment of the street warden staff comes as the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Stephen Byers, this week announced that a further £50 million will be made available to council's to help set up further schemes.

He said: "Residents want to feel safe and happy in their neighbourhood. People remember characters like park keepers and caretakers who they came to trust.

"By introducing street wardens we can tackle together the problems that are the most irritating in neighbourhoods, such as dogs fouling our open spaces, fear of crime and loutish behaviour."